The best machine.......Well it's all dependent on what you like. ITC Protime is probably the most accurate, but it requires the most blood and is often difficult to get a sample without containing air bubbles and getting error messages.
Hi Ross,
Just wanted to add some comments of my personal usage with the Protime Unit.
I have had my Protime now for over 6 years. I'll admit that at first I did get error messages due to time outs or air bubbles. However, These incidents mainly occurred when I first started to use my machine. I strongly feel that these errors, at least in my case, were mostly caused from nervousness of performing the tests. "Beginner Jitters". Many things contributed to that such as, the timer to collect the sample, or worrying about not getting enough blood sample for the test, or will I get another error; These all made me nervous, and... due to that.. sometimes the machine would time out prior to collecting the sample, or due to nerves, I could not get enough blood. Funny thing is.. tha as soon as the time expired, and I relaxed... if flowed like a fountain! hmmmm.... did I say "relax". There were other times that I just was able to collect my sample and rushed to connect the sample to the unit... Result.... Air Bubble Error code. All of these instances of "Error Messages" I say was due to Beginner Jitters.
Once I got over the panic of home testing, I didn't get the Beginner Jitters any more, and everything went smoothly. Collecting enough blood for the sample, became a non-issue once my nerves were settled down. I know we say the test requires a lot of blood.. but let's face it.. 4 to 5 large droplets of blood for the sample is really all we are talking about. My finger sticks can easily generate that these days without a problem. There are testing units that due require less, but all in all... it's not really a lot of blood for the sample.
I rarely get an error message these days, have no issues with the amount of blood I need for the sampling, and found that after I fill the vile with the required amount to run the test, a slight tapping of the vile/cuvette blood sample on the counter until a small drop comes out the bottom, prevents / eliminates the possible air bubble error message.
The only error messages I get these days is caused due to a "Low Battery Level", which is caused if I run the machine by battery only, and I allow it to get too low before recharging. I usually get 5 or 6 tests prior to it needing a recharge.
Anyway... I just wanted to let everyone know, that there are people using the Protime Unit, and the problems you described are not regular common occurrence that happen on a routine basis.
btw... I had my unit checked against the hospital lab results 4 weeks ago, and the 2 tests were within 0.3 of each other. Not bad for a unit that is now going into it's 7th year of usage with me! I test weekly and take it overseas with me on a regular basis.
Information is knowledge... hope this helps.. or further confuses those making home testing unit selections. There are some very good units on the market, all of which have pluses and minuses.
Rob
